Look at what you record!

Two monstrous beings with the head of an ass and the body of an ape, standing on their hindquarters, carry two other equally deformed figures on their shoulders. The one in the foreground has the head of an eagle and the body of a man, with claw-like hands and fingers interlaced in prayer. Somewhat further back is another figure with a human body and face and the ears of a donkey. The scene takes place on a plain, in the background of which a crowd of people can be seen watching this peculiar image.

In this print Goya used aquatint in a single tone, while he made extensive use of etching to define the hairy bodies of the animals carrying other monstrous beings on their shoulders, as well as the sky.

The explanations provided by the manuscripts of this engraving have some nuances that make them different. The Ayala manuscript states the following: "Two beastly figures are exercising on horseback. The one is famous for his devotion and the other for his thievery". In the Museo Nacional del Prado manuscript, the explanation is more oriented towards witchcraft: "The print indicates that these two witches of convenience and authors have gone out for a bit of exercise on horseback". Finally, the manuscript in the Biblioteca Nacional comments on this engraving as follows: "One sees nothing in the world but monstrosities: two monstrous beasts carry two people on their shoulders: the one appears to be brave, but a thief; the other a fanatic, but a savage. Such are the kings and chief magistrates of the people; and with all this they call them from afar; they acclaim them and entrust the government to them".

In short, one might think that this engraving virulently denounces the abuses of authority and those who despotically exercise power. It was precisely they who fostered ignorance among the people, making them incapable of freeing themselves from this yoke.